Number comparing device



Jan. 23, 1951 J. E. P. VERNEAUX NUMBER COMPARING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .v I 3 ,a n 1 119 H J6 6066/76 P1904 MFR/75190.1.

Jan. 23, 1951 J. E. P. VERNEAUX 2,539,043

NUMBER COMPARING DEVICE Filed May 2, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .11 a 5 IO sa [Pa 4. 0. 7

Patented Jan. 23, 1951 NUMBER COMPARING DEVICE Jean Eugene Paul Verneaux, Paris, France, as-

signor to S.- A. Compagnie Industrielle des Ma- I chines Automatiques de Gomptabilite, Paris,

Francev Application May 2, 1946, Serial No. 666,574 In France February 22, 1943" Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8', 1946 Patent expires February 22, 1963- 1 Claim. 1

This invention has for its main object to provide an automatical commutation. system for interclassifying devices. in statistical machines i. e. for devices, the aim of which is to compare two numbers respectively termed primary and secondary numbers with respect to each other, and to render operative a different function according to whether the primary number is inferior, equal or superior to the secondary number.

This invention is chiefly characterized in that each numeral of both said. primary and said secondary number is entered into a registering device withv relays which corresponds to the order of units to which belongs the numeral considered (single units, tens and so on) the relays of each registering device on. one hand and. the registering devices themselves on the other hand being arranged in decreasing order so as to form successive stages of two relays homologous of. each registering device, each relay ensuring. either immediate diversion of. one signal impulse towards one of the unequality circuits and the isolation of the following stages when one only of said relays is energized or transmission of said impulse towards the. following, stage when both. relays are simultaneously energized. or at rest, the equality circuit being disposed after the last stage of relays.

Such general arrangement is applicable what-- ever the method. of entering the numerals in the registering devices; but. it. is capable. of a particular application in the event where the odd numerals (1, 3, 5, '7 and 9) are expressed by the energizing of a predetermined relay in the five relay registering device while the even numbers (2, 4,, 6 and 8) are expressed by the energizing of the relay which corresponds to the odd numeral immediately below said even. numeral and the. simultaneous energizing, of the relay corresponding to the numeral 9-.

In that case, in the: absence of an arrangementwhich would. take into account said particular previously known method of expressing or entering the numerals, the above outlined system would. always indicate the superiority of any even numberover an odd number smaller than 9 since the even number causes energizing of the relay corresponding to 9' at the same time as that of: another relay and the. equality between any odd number and 9., For this purpose of adapting the previously defined invention to this particular case, means are providedby said invention by which the circuit of the relay corresponding to 9 in a registering device; isalways broken by the energizing of any other-relay of the same registering device, except in the event where the. corresponding relay of the. homologous registering device i. e. that of the same stage, is also energized. To this end, the. circuit of the relay corresponding to 9 in each primary (or secondary) registering device comprises contacts connected in series and normally closed pertaining respectively to the other relays of the registering device, said con.- tact being shunted. by other contacts normally open and belonging to the. homologous relays of the corresponding secondary (or primary) registering device.

In a disposition of such type, the circuit of the relay corresponding to 9 is normally closed, so that said relay may be energized before the circuit thereof. is opened due to the energizing of another relay of the same registering device. To avoid this disadvantage, said relay, the energizing of which is preferably retarded, instead of directly actuating the contacts corresponding to 9, controls the circuit of another relay relating to said contacts, shunted across its. own circuit by an operative contact. The time lag which it is thus necessary to. introduce. into the operation of the device constitutes a drawback. A. further drawback resides in the fact that, due to the fact that the relay corresponding to 9 is not energized in certain cases, in spite of the impulse transmitted to the. circuit thereof, the registering devices do not then form a correct image of the number which had been transmitted thereto. It then becomes impossible to utilize such registering devices for other functions as for example for the checking of sequences.

For eliminating these drawbacks, in a form of embodiment of the invention, all the relays, even those which correspond to 9, directly receive their energizing impulse and in that the inequality impulses are transmitted, by the group of contacts which corresponds to 9' through chain contact controlled by the other relays of the same registering device in such a way that the energizing of one thereof determines the deflection of the impulse towards a shunt circuit which comprises a movable contact controlled by the corresponding relay of the other registering device so that said.

deflected impulse returns either towards the group corresponding to '7 if said last relay is not energized or, in the opposite case, towards the preceding inequality circuit.

Asa result of the above arrangement:

1. If the relay corresponding to 9 is energizedin one of said two registering, devices only:

ta.) Either no other relay is energized in the same registering. device and, in that case, the

comparative impulse is at once transmitted towards the corresponding inequality circuit;

(11) Or, another relay is energized in the same registering device and moreover:

The homologous relay of the other registering device is also energized; in that case, the comparative impulse is sent back towards the previous inequality circuit.

The second registering device contains no energized relay or a relay other than the relay homologous, to that of the first registering device and, in that case, the comparative impulse is sent back towards the group of contacts corresponding to the numeral 7 so that the comparison proceeds normally.

2. If both relays corresponding to 9 are at rest or both are energized, the comparative impulse is sent back towards the group of contacts corresponding to 7 so that the comparison is normally effected,

The accompanying drawings represent by way of example only, two embodimentsof the invention.

; Fig. 1 is a diagram for a first embodiment and,

Fig. 2 relates to a second embodiment.

The embodiment Figure 1 relates to the case where the figures of the primary and secondary numbers are entered in the registering devices by means of the above indicated code, that is that the odd numerals are expressed by the en-- ergizing of a relay while the even numerals are expressed by the energizing of the relay corresponding to the odd numeral immediately below it and by the energizing of therelay corresponding to 9. Each registering-device is therefore made up at least of five relays and there are as many registering devices (primary and secondary) as there may be numerals comprised in the numbers to be compared together; if, for instance, said numbers may include four numerals, the apparatus will comprise four primary and secondary registering devices.

In Fig. 1, there has been only illustrated one primary registering device and one secondary registering device and the commutation device characterizing the invention for the portion which corresponds to said two registering devices. It will be assumed that those registering devices are those which correspond to the figures of the highest order of units in the primary and secondary numbers i. e. the figures standing at the left end thereof; and it will thereof be understood that the complete system is made up of other groups of two registering devices (primary and secondary) arranged at the right of those shown and constituted in the same manner. Of course, the expression arranged at the right should not be interpreted as indication of any geometrical and rectilinear disposition, as will easily be understood, but this phrase is convenient because of the analogy which it brings to mind with respect to the natural disposition of the numerals making up the numbers to be compared.

' The primary registering device is composed of five principal relays: I, 2, 3, I and 5; the relay I corresponds to the numerals 1 and 2, the relay 2 to 3 and 4, the relay 3 to 5 and 6, the relay 4 to I and 8 and the relay 5 to 9 alone.

The winding of relay I is connected on one hand to earth (or'toa 'returnconductor) at 6 and, on the otherhand, to a conductor 1 which leads to the feelerdevice of the statistical machine. Such device which does not form part of the invention is not described herein; it will 4 be sufilcient to state that, when the numeral scanned is 1 or 2, the feeler device connects the wire 7 to the free terminal of the source of power, thereby obviously causing energizing of the relay I. Becoming energized the relay I attracts the movable contact to and this closes a holding circuit for the relay i, that is so because the fixed operative contact H) is connected to the wire 8 in turn connected through the medium of a switch not represented in the drawing to the free terminal of the source of power. It will here be noted that the contacts relating to a given relay are designated by the reference number of that relay followed by a letter index, as for instance the contacts is and lb which have just been described and which belong to the relay I. Ihe latter further comprises the movable contact Ic cooperating with the fixed rest contact Id, the movable contact ie cooperating with the fixed rest contact if and thefixed operative contact I g; lastly, the movable contact In cooperating with the fixed operative contact ii.

The relays 2, 3 and fl are identically constituted and arranged as the relay i, the description of this arrangement will therefore not be repeated and it will only be observed that the contacts corresponding to each of said relays have been given the same letter index as those corresponding to relay i Thus, for instance, contacts 2a, to, do are identicallyrelated with respect to relay 2, 3 and 4 as contact to with respect to re lay I.

. The windings of the relays 2, 35 and 4 are like that of relay i connected on one hand to earth or to. a return conductor which has uniformly been designated by the reference 6 and, on the other hand, to a conductor respectively designated by 9, Iii and it which, like the wire 7 previously described, leads to the feeler device of the statistical machine.

Relay 5, which has started, corresponds to the figure 9, is constituted and arranged in a manner somewhat different from the preceding relay. It comprises the same contacts with the sole exception-of the contact which would have borne the latter indices 0, d, h and 2'. On the other hand, while the winding of relay 5 isearthed at 6, it is not directly connected to conductor l2, which, like the wires l, 9, iii and ii previously described leads to the feeler device of the statistical machine. Such connection occurs through contacts Ic--id2c2d-3c-2dc ld in series and by the movable contact 83a and the fixed operative contact I 3?) of a relay l3, the winding of which connected to earth at 6 is also connected in series through the contacts icid-2c'2d3c-3d ic-4d with the wire i2.

The secondary registeringdevice is constituted in the same way as the primary registering device, it is therefore needless to repeat the description thereof. It will be enough to state that the relays and the contacts of the secondary registering device have been designated in the drawing by the same numbers of reference followed by the same letter indices but moreover with the index prime. Moreover, whereas the movable contacts of the primary relays are indicated by two parallel lines, the movable contacts of the secondary relays are indicated by a thick line. However, there are no homologous contact to those which bear, in the primary registering device, the letter indices e, f, and 9 but, on the contrary, the relay I for instance comprises two additional movable contacts IIc and i'm. The

movable contact -I7c is connected to the fixed" operative contact In and cooperates. with a fixed restco'ntact W1: and a fixed operative: contact lo. The movable-contact I 'm is connected to the fixed rest contact If andcooperates with: a fixed rest contact l 'pand with afixedoperative contact l 'q. All the. relays 2 3 "5 comprise,- inv the same way} contacts-similarly indicated by the lether indices k, m, 11,0, p; disposed in the same way.-

It will be noted that in the primary registerde'v-icethe: separate rest contacts such as Pit and Vi are arranged to shunt the" contacts which are mutually engaged atre'st' position such as Id and lot In the same way, contacts 2h',- 2Z shunt the contacts 2c'--2'd the: contacts 3 "h-3"i shunt the contacts M' -3d and the contacts the: shunt the contacts tc -4d In the secondary regis-tering device,- the same arrangement is repeated-but r'eversedother wcrdsthe contacts l'h|ishunt the contacts 2h2i shunt the contacts 2'c-2d and so on.

The commutation device proper, has already been partially described at the sametime as some of the contacts of the primary and secondary registering devices; it will be" sufficient to add that (a) The contacts bearing the letter indic'es o and p (such as for instance I 'p and V) are connectecl together in each group as shown at l4 l5-l6l1 and [8;

(b) The inlet terminal of the signalling impulse is connected to the movable contact 5e as shown at l9, while connection I8 is connected to the movable ontact 4e, connection H to movable contact 3c, connection [6' to movable contact 2e, connection [5 to movable contactle and connection M to wire which extends the signaling circuit towards the group corresponding to the lower order of units, that" is those situated at the right;

(cl The fixed operative contacts bearing the letter" index are multipled on the wire- 2| adapted to signal superiority of the primary" number;

(-11)" And lastly, the fixed operative contacts bearing the index q are rnulti led on the wire 22 signallin inferiority of the primary number.

The device operates as iollcwsz Equality of the primary and secondary numbers In this case, it is obvious that the same numeral is transmitted to both registering devices i. e. primary and secondary of a given group.

It will first be assumed that said numeral is an odd numeral, say 5.

In this case, an impulse is transmitted by the teeter device of the statistical machine over the wire HI so that relay 3 is energized. It attracts its armature which causes closure of the contacts 3d-3b' formation or a holding circuit for relay 3' Which- Will iefrlailfl energized even after the impulse over wire III will have disappeared.- Said holding circuit comprises the wire 8 and a switch not shown in the drawing, the ulterior opening of which alonewill permit deenergizing of relay 3. Energizing or relay 3 has for effect to break at the circuit or relay 5 to bring the contact 3e engagement with contact 3g and, lastly, to shunt at 3h-3'i contacts 3 'd3'c. 7 But, on the other hand, in the secondary regl istering device, an impulse is transmitted over the wire [0 so that relay 3' is energized and remains e ergized by the contacts 3'a, 3"b and the wire 8. The contacts 3c3'd are opened. This has no effect since they are shunted.- by the contacts id a-3i; contacts 3'10 3m are shifted 6 to operative'position; lastly, contacts 372; and 3'! shunt contacts 3d3c thus: destroying the effect which. opening of said contacts may have produced.

Connections between H! and 20. which initially comprised all the contacts bearingindexes e and I in series wasfirst destroyed by movable contact 3eshifting to operative position, but it is obvious that such connection is reestablished by another path comprising contacts 3g-3'k30 since relay 3 is energized. The circuit between l9 and 20 remains the same up to connection l1, then it passes through 3e3g'-3'lc3o and returns at 29 to the initial circuit.

It will thus be seen' that, in this case, the effect is identically the same as if nothing had been changed in the initial connections so that the signaling impulse transmitted through l9 reaches conductor 20, this being characteristic for the equality of the registered numbers. Said impulse thereafter passes into the following commutation device and so on.

If the numeral transmitted had both for the primary and for the secondary registering device, been an even number such as 6 for example, an impulse would then have been sent to wires It) and III as in the case of numeral 5, but moreover an impulse would also have been sent to wires [2 and I2, said impulse corresponding to numeral 9 in the primary number and to the secondary number, the impulse on the Wires it and [0' would have produced the same operations as previously, but moreover the impulse on wires l2 and I2 would have caused the efiects which are now about to be described.

It has been explained that opening of contacts 3c3d on one hand and 3'c-3'd on the other was cancelled by the simultaneous closure of contacts 3'h---3'i and 3h-3i. Consequently, the impulse on wire l2 energizes relay l3 and the impulse on wire i2 energizes relay l3.

Upon being energized, relay l3 closes the contacts l3al3b thereby energizing relay 5 which remains energized by contacts 5a-5b and wire 8. Similarly, the impulse on wire :2 'ener'gizes relay 5!.

It will be observed that, in order to avoid leaving relay [3 energized, the circuit thereof could be made to pass through a rest contact cooperating with the movable contact I3a-.

Simultaneous energizing of relays 5 and 5 in the same way as described above in connection with that of relays 3 and 3 has for its sole effeet, as will be easily understandable without it i being necessary to repeat the above description,

to transfer the connection b;tween l9 and I8 through the contacts 5e-5g5'k5o. Therefore, the signaling impulse arriving over I9 is further transmitted at 26.

Odd primary number greater than the corresponding odd secondary number It will b assumed for instance that the numeral transmitted to the registering device is 5, like in the preceding example, while the numeral transmitted to the secondary registering device is 3.

In the primary registering device, the relay 3 is energized as previously and in the secondary registering device the relay 2 is energized, but it is about to be shown that the energizing of relay 2' remains without effect The contact 3e disengages the rest contact 3 to engage the fixed operative contacts 3g; relay 3' not being energized, th obvious result is that the signaling impulse which arrives at l9 and reaches contact 3e through the previously described circuit is directed on wire 2| through the contacts (Ho and 3n so as to produce the signal primary numeral greater than secondary numeral. Said impulse may therefore no longer reach contact 2e so that the energizing of relay 2' is no longer capable of producing any effect. It will easily be understood why the Signaling impulse may immediately be deflected towards the wire 2| as soon as one of the commutation system ascertains that the registered numeral of the primary number is greater than the registered numeral of the secondary number. For it is obvious thousands of the primary number is greater than the numeral of the thousands of the secondary number, it is superfluous to continue the comparison between the two numbers any further. It is therefore only in the event where the commutation system ascertains equality of both registered numerals, that it will be necessary to extend the circuit of signaling impulses to the commutation system situated further towards the right, that is corresponding to units of a lower order.

Even primary numeral greater than the corresponding even numeral of the secondary numher It will be assumed that the registered primary numeral is 6, i. e. that an impulse is transmitted both over wires and i2 and the registered secondary numeral is 4, that is that an impulse is transmitted both over wires 9 and i2.

As previously explained, energizing of relay 3 breaks at 3c3d the energizing circuit of relay 13, but this time relay 3' is not energized so that the broken circuit is not reestablished. If therefore relay I3 is initially energized at the same 7 time as relay 3 (since the circuit thereof is initially closed) said circuit is also broken and relay 3 falls back. When it has been energized and has consequently efiected closure of contacts l3al3b, it has however not yet been possible for relay to become energized because, at the instant contacts l3ai3b had closed the circuit thereof, contacts 3c3d had broken the same at another point. The result is that the impulse transmitted over Wire i2 remains without effect and that the result is to all purposes the same as though numeral 5 had alone been registered by the energizing of relay 3.

For the same reasons, in the secondary registering device, the impulse transmitted over [2' also remains without effect and to all purposes, the effects are the same as though numeral 3 had alone been registered by the energizing of relay 2'.

The result is that comparison is not effected between the two even numerals transmitted, but between the two odd numerals respectively below the same, which is obviously equivalent. The same operations as in the previously described event are repeated in a like manner with like results.

Odd primary numeral greater than odd secondary numeral It may have been observed from the above explanations that both in the primary and in the secondary registering devices, enirgizing of a relay l2-3-4 or l-2'-3'-4' has always for eifect to break the energizing circuit of the relay I3I3 except in the special case where the same relay is energized both in the primary and in the secondary registering device (i. e. when primary and secondary numerals are equal). Now, in the event under discussion where the odd primary numeral is greater than the odd secondary numeral, it is obvious that the relays which are energized in the primary and in the secondary registering devices may not possibly be the same. For a single relay corresponds to an odd numeral and to the even numeral immediately abov it; therefore, the relay corresponding to a lower even numeral and to an odd numeral is necessarily difierent. The result is that in the secondary registering device, the registered numeral is the odd numeral immediately below the even numeral which has been transmitted and the comparison is made between two odd numerals as disclosed above.

Ifyfor instance, the numeral transmitted to the primary registering device is 5, relay 3 is energized as described. The numeral transmitted to the secondary registering device being 4 for instance, the relay 2 becomes energized and breaks at 20-2d the circuit of relay I3. Conditions in the secondary registering device are to all eiiects the same as in the previous example, so that comparison is made between the nunumerals 5 (primary) and 3 (secondary) instead of 4.

Even primary numeral greater than odd secondary numeral Two events are to be considered according to whether:

The even primary numeral exceeds by more than one unit the odd secondary numeral, or

The even primary numeral exceeds by one unit only the odd secondary numeral.

In the first case, relay |--2-34 energized in the primary registering device is not the same as relay |2--3'-4' energized in the secondary registering device. The result therefore is that, in the primary registering device, the circuit of relay I3 is broken as previously explained and that comparison is made between the odd numeral just below the numeral transmitted to the primary registering device and the odd numeral transmitted to the secondary registering device: we are thus brought back to one of the cases previously discussed. If, for instance, the even numeral transmitted to the primary registering device is 8, then the odd numeral transmitted to the secondary registering device is 5, the comparison will be effected between the numeral 7 which alone is registered in the primary and 5 registered at the secondary.

In the second case, relay I23-4 energized in the primary registering device is the same as relay I23'4 energized in the secondary registering device. The result, as already explained, is that energizing of the secondary relay cancels the breakage of the circuit effected by the energizing of the primary relay for relay I3, so that said relay is energized and causes energizing of relay 5. The result then is that contact Se is shifted to operative position by the fifth contact 5g and this has for effect immediately to deflect the signaling impulse to wire 2|. In other words, comparison is made in this case between numeral 9 registered at the primary and the odd numeral registered at the secondary.

Odd primary numeral smaller than odd secondary numeral Assume for example that the numeral transmitted to the primary registering device is 3 and that transmitted to the secondary registering device is "7, consequently relay 2 of the primary and relay .4 of the secondary are energized.

Because of energizing of relay contact 4'm engages contact 4'q thereby breaking at Ap the normal impulse-transmitting circuit towards the groups placed further right, and deflecting said signaling impulse at once to wire :22, which corresponds to the sign l primary number smaller then secondary number. For the same reasons as above energizing of relay 2 produces no efiect since no impulse may any longer reach contact 2e; for, even though contact 47c did engage contact 4'10, this circumstance is of no consequence aslcontact 4e has remained at rest.

Even primary numeral smaller than even secondary numeral In this case, as previously discussed in connection with the instance where the even primary numeral is greater than the even secondary numeral, compar son is made bet een the two immediately preceding odd numera's because relay I, 2, 3, 4 which is energized is not the same as relay l-2'3'4 which s energized so that both in the primary and in the secondary regis'te n dev ces r a s l3 a d i W at e energized by the impulse on wires l2 and I2. We aretherefore brought back to the previous case.

Odd primary numeralsmaller than even secondary numeral 'Iwo cases should be considered according to whether the .odd numeral ,of the ,primary is smaller than the even numeral of the secondary by more than one unit or by one unit only.

In the first case, the relay l- 234 energ zed is not the same as the relay 'l-2'-3'4" energized. The re ult is, as has been explained, that the relay I3 is not energized by the impulse transmitting wire l2 so that the numeral registered in the secondary is the odd numeral smaller by one unit than the even numeral transmitted. The comparison is then carried out, as previously.

In the second case, relay zl.-.:2-3-4 energized is the same as relay l'.-?-.2'-,3'. 4' energized. The result is that the circuit of re ay i3 is reestablished ,and .relay .5 becomes energized. Contact 52m deflects the impulse transmitted orer L towards Wire 32 i. -;e. compar son is :made between the numeral 9 inscribed in the secondary and the odd numeral of the primary.

Even primary numeral smaller than odd secondary numeral In this case the relay i-E-E-t energized is necessarily different from the relay 2'-3'4' energized so that relay l3- does not become energized and comparison is effected between the odd numeral just below the even numeral transmitted to the primary and the odd numeral transmitted to the secondary.

Modifications In the example of Figure 2, according to one feature of the invention, relays 5 and 5' corresponding in both registering devices to the numeral 9 are directly supplied by the energizing impulse transmitted over 52 and [2.

On the other hand, relays i, 2, 3, A and I, 2', 3', 4 are'provided with additional contacts indicated by thev same reference numerals followed by the same indices, 1', s, t, u, v, a; while the contacts of said relays which, in the case of Fig. I, bear the same reference numerals followed by the indices 0, d, h and i are on the contrary suppressed.

The operative contact Eq which was directly connected in Fig. l to the inequality circuit 22 (indicating inferiority of the primary number) is now connected thereto through the chain contacts 4'r-l' t, 3r3t, 2'r--2t-l'r l't. Similarly, the rest contact 5% which is directly connected. to the inequality circuit 2: (indicatingsuperiority of the primary number), is now connected thereto by the chain contacts ir-lt, Me 375, Zr-Zt, tr-it. Moreover, each contact bearing the index a is connected to a movable contact bearing the index 3 whereof the rest contact having index 12 is connected to the wire linking the group of contacts corresponding to the numeral 9 with the group corresponding to the numeral 7, whereas the operative Contact thereof having in.- dex :1: is connected to the rest contact having index t i. e. to the corresponding inequalitycircuit 2| or 22. The arrangement then operates as follows:

I. Relay 5 is assumed to be energized and relay 5' deenergized.

(a) No other relay is energized in the primary registering device, 1. e. the numeral entered in the primary registering device is 9.

In that case, the comparative impulse which arrives over 29 is transmitted over unequality wire 2i (superiority of the primary number) by the contact 5e operative, contact 59, 57c, 5'n, 4r, 4t, 3r, 315, 2r, 2t, l r and It.

For, in this case considered, the numeral entered in the secondary registering device not being 9 is necessarily smaller than that entered in the primary registering device.

(.b) Another relay is energized in the primary registering device i. e. the numeral entered in this registering device is even.

, 1. Moreover, the homologous relay of the secondar re s e d i is ik wis e r izedo xample the relay 5 and a e ene e zedin th primary registering .d v and the rela 3 in the secondary registering device.

.In that case, the comparative impulse ,is returned over the inequality .wire 21 (superiority of .the primary number.) by way of the following circuit: contacts .59, .57c-5'h. tr..5lt.-r3 r ,ODQI'? ,ative 3"n-3 's operative-3:c2r 2t?lrw,| t-.-,-.

,For the .numeral inscribed in the primary registering device is 6 while that inscribed in the secondary registering device is 5.

2. The secondary registering device contains no energized relay or a relay other than the relay homologous to that of the first registering device. For instance, relays 5 and 3 of the primary registering being energized, no relay is energized in the secondary registering device or else relay 4' is energized.

In both cases, the comparative impulse is returned to the entrance of the group of contacts corresponding to the numeral 7, i. e. to contact 4e. For, this impulse passes over the following circuit: contacts 5e operative, contacts 5g, 5k- 5n4r4t3r3a-3's3'vwire 23contact 4e. The comparison operation then proceeds as described in reference to Fig. 1.

Thus, in the first case (no relay energized in the secondary registering device), such impulse continues by way of contacts 4e4f4'm-- l'n-wire |1-contact 3eoperative, contact 3g--3'k3'n and unequality wire 2| indicating 11' superiority of the primary numeral. For, this primary numeral is 6 whereas the secondary numeral is 0.

In the second case (relay 4' energized), the comparative impulse passes by way of contact 4e-4f-4'm operative-4q and Wire 22 indicating superiority of the secondary numeral. For, this secondary numeral is '7 while the primary numeral is 6, as stated above.

II. Relays 5 and 5' are both at rest or both energized.

If they are both at rest, the comparative impulse is directed towards the right through contact 5f, 5'm, 5p, wire 3, contact 4e and the comparison proceeds as indicated in reference to Fig. 1.

This is so because both numerals are odd and smaller than 9.

If relays 5 and 5 are both energized, the comparative impulse is then directed towards the right through contact 5e operative-Eg-S'Ic operative5'0 operativewire l8contact 4e and the comparison again proceeds as indicated hereinabove.

This is so because those numerals are even and the comparison is carried out between the odd numerals respectively immediately below them.

The functional feature of the above described device is therefore the following:

The inequality impulse which derives from energizing of one only of relays 5 or 5' correspond ing to the numeral 9 in both registering devices is transmitted to the corresponding unequality wire by the chain contacts bearing the index r in such a way that the energizing of another relay of the said registering device interrupts said transmission and returns the impulse through the contacts bearing the index it towards the contacts 4e; except however if the homologous relay of the latter relay, but contained in the other registering device is energized at the same time, this having for effect to reestablish by way of the contact bearing the index s the connection broken off at the contacts bearing the index 1' with the previous inequality wire.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a device for comparing primar and secondary multidenominational arithmetical numbers for relative magnitude, wherein said numbers are represented in a combinational code and wherein comparison of corresponding denominations. of the two numbers is eifected seriatim beginning with the highest order by means of a comparison electrical signal, in combination, a primary register for registering the primary number, a secondary register for registering the secondary number, said registers being each composed, in each denomination, of a set of electrical relays energizable singly or in combination to represent every possible digit of a notation, of a set of wires each of them for energizing the relays, the grouping of which corresponds to the digit to be entered in the corresponding register and of means for holding said relays when in energized position said relays being arranged in two parallel rows, one corresponding to the primary number and the other one to the secondary number, so as to form successive stages of pairs of homologous relays, and, for each denomination, a comparing structure comprising a contact receiving the comparison signaLa circuit having three lines for respectively indicating the equality between the primary and secondary numbers, the superiority and the inferiority of said primary number with respect to said secondary number, the equality line being connected at rest with said contact and with the comparison contact of the subsequent denomination, means for transmitting said signal to said equality line when all pairs of homologous relays forming a primary and a secondary grouping are in the same electrical conditions, means for transmitting said signal to said superiority'line when in one of the pairs of homologous relays forming a primary and a secondary grouping the primary relay is alone energized and means for transmitting said signal to said inferiority line when in one of the pairs of homologous relays forming a primary and a secondary grouping the secondary relay is alone energized.

JEAN EUGENE PAUL VERNEAUX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,927,702 Foss Sept. 19, 1933 2,074,392 Herbst Mar. 23, 1937 2,359,630 Dickinson et al Oct. 5, 1944 2,364,540 Luhn Dec. 5, 1944 2,393,386 Leathers et a1. Jan. 22, 1946 

